It was about this time last year when I had gotten my dorm room assignment and found out who my roommate is. (well actually I chose my roommate, but the plebs who didn't found out around this time)

My roommate and I were discussing different ways to decorate the room and who would bring what, etc. Surprisingly enough, the most agonizing decision I had to make was whether or not to loft my bed.

It's no secret that I attend The University of Illinois In Urbana Champaign (UIUC), where they offer 3 different bed configurations. The Mid Loft, The Loft, and Bunk beds. As always dorm sizes and bed options differ from school to school, but I feel like these three are pretty standard when it comes to different options.

**** Disclaimer: All the photos of dorm rooms, except for those of my room at the bottom of the post, are from the University of Illinois Housing website. I do not own them.****

The Mid-LoftMid lofted bed end up to be about 3 feet off the floor. Its a bit of a jump to get up to it, but it'd good if you don't like heights or like just sitting in your bed while you do things. If you choose this configuration I would recommend practicing your high jumping skills, but if bringing a step stool or a storage ottoman would be good as well.

A Mid-loft is high enough that you can store things under the bed, and still have room for your dresser and bookshelf underneath the bed. A warning to all the people who thrash in their sleep: It still hurts if you fall off the mid-loft so be careful.

Pros of a Mid Lofted Bed

Able to watch TV, go on lap top, do homework in your bed, and want to sit normally in bed

More seating if you have friends over

You can put storage boxes behind the dresser to hide storage space

Not very difficult to get into if your "not in your right mind" (wink, wink)

You can put posters, pictures, mirrors etc on the wall above your bed and its more visible.

Cons of The mid Loft Lifestyle

Not as much storage space if you want to have things like a fridge, or chairs in your room

Your Friends might sit in your bed and get dirt or food or whatever in you bed

You might spend more time in bed sleeping because its so easy to get to

People know if your bed isnt made

makes the room seem smaller

Cant use the surfaces of your dresser as a counter.

The Lofted BedI don't know exactly but I would say that a Lofted bed is about 6 feet up in the air. They require a Ladder to get to and recommenced a railing, so you don't fall out. (the railing also comes in handy to tie your charging cord around so your phone doesn't fall out of your bed)Its big enough that you can stack your bookshelf on top of your dresser or also put your desk under your bed

When sleeping there is really only a foot in between the mattress and the ceiling so its a tad cramped and not recommended if your claustrophobic.

If your and your roommate both get your beds lofted there is room for things like extra seating, or a fridge, storage containers, shoe rack, TV etc.

The Pros of lofting

Lots of extra room

makes the room look bigger

Theres an extra shelf you get if you have a lofted bed (see picture at the bottom of post)

can utilize serfaces of dresser and/or bookshelf

can have a futon, or a TV or extra cabinets under the bed

People wont go in your bed

You dont have to make your bed ever

The cons of that lofted life

you'll probably bang your head on the ceiling

Not a lot of room for chilling on your bed

Pretty much no room to "hang out" with a significant other in a lofted bed *cough*

Sometimes when your drunk its hard to climb ladders, and you will definitely bang your head

Its harder to get out of bed in the morning when you have to climb down the ladder

If you want to have friends over you need to have different seating, cause they cant sit on your bed

The Bunk BedDepending on the dorm there may be an option to bunk the bed, (or it may be your only option) this means that both beds are connected and there are 2 small drawers underneath the bottom bunk. These come with a railing and the ladder is on the side.

At UIUC they mostly have this in the older dorms (6 pack, or North and South Ikenberry) The first bed is about 1.5 feet off the floor and the second is about 5 feet off the floor (so there is more room to sit up in the traditional lofted bed. These beds are not adjustable, so your pretty much stuck with it if this is in your dorm, but im going to do a pro, and con for it anyway.

Pros to bunking

There is a lot more room for other things in your room, like a couch, storage cabinet, or anything else you may want in your dorm

You get drawers under your bed

There's the best of both worlds with lofting/not lofting

room looks a lot bigger

Cons to Bunk Beds

Fighting with your roommate about who gets bottom/top

all around reduced private space cause your beds are in the same place

there is no definitive "side of the room" so things can get very messy and belongings can get lost.

I feel like you and your roommate need to be really close for this type of lifestyle to work out

Choosing a bed configuration shouldn't be something to loose sleep over (Ba dum tss) but there I hope these pros and cons helped you thing about what is really right for you. You can always try something out, then change it if its not what you like. Your dorms maintenance men can literally loft or un-loft your bed in about 5 minutes and are very respectful when changing your configuration.

As for me:I chose to loft my bed, but I cheated and lowered the bed 6 inches lower then a normal "loft" this gave me a little extra room so that i had about a 2 feet of room for sleeping. I wasn't able to fit my desk or the bookshelf on top of the dresser, but it just ended up working out for me the best. I was able to fit my bookshelf, dresser, a mini fridge and utilize the extra shelf. My roommate had the same configuration except she had a chair instead of the fridge. Look below for more pictures of my dorm room.

My desk, Notice the book shelf off the end of my bed as well.

My Lofted bed. And Dandelion Wall Stickers that i had put on. Notice the beam that i would hit my head on still.

Under-bed area. Fridge, Bookshelf, and dresser.

Whats your favorite room configuration? Have any thing to add to the pros and cons lists? Comment below!